Controlling means for electric circuits



W. 0. LUM.

CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS. APPLICATSON FILED FEB. 27, 1911.

Patented May 11, 1920.

c Mfnessass /27 men tor afar/16 1 W. 0. LUM. CONTROLLING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

AFPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. 191i.

Patented May 11', 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- //7 Mentor- Wa/er' 0. Lam

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER 0. mm, or AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK, nssxenon TO GENERAL nnnc'rms COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CONTROLLIIIG MEANS FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Application filed February 27, 1911. Serial No. 611,151.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, WALTER O. LUM, a citizen of the United States, residin at Amsterdam, county of Mont omery, tate of New York, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling theobjectsbein'g to provide means whereby the motor may begautomatically started, stopped and generally controlled. In the operation of electric motors it is common to both startthemotors and control the speed of the same by means of a resistance which is cut in and out of circuit. Every time a section of resistance iscut out, the current temporarily rises above normal value. The increase in speed which follows the cutting out'of a section of resistance immediately reduces the current. During the starting of the motor, therefore, there are a number of temporary rushes of current, one for each section of resistancewhich is cut out. These sections are frequently out out of circuit by electromagnetic switches which operate automatically in succession. In order to prevent. the switches from operating too rapidly so as to cutout the resistance too rapidly, and increase the, current beyond a safe value, various means have been devised. One method of accomplishing this result is by what is'known as current limit control. In this typeof controhiprovision is made for preventing the electromagnetic switches from being closed when the current in the motor circuit exceeds a predetermined value. As heretofore. practised. this system has included means for preventing the magnetic switches from being energized while the current is too high. I In some switches there is a separate overload or throttle device provided in connection with each switch and in other cases a singleoverload device controls avplurality of switches. All of these systems, however, involve the'use of auxiliary switches or interlocks; shunt coils, etc.,

a which tend 'to complicate the ap'paratusand render it more expensive. One. of the 'ob-' jects of my invention is to dispense with the auxiliary mechanism and superfluous windings and provide a switch in which the desired result will be attained by a single energizing coil and a' single moving switch element. g

In carrying out my invention, I provide an electromagnetic switch having an actuating winding whichoperates to hold the switch open when the exciting current is relatively high and operates to close it when the exciting current is lower. The switch is held open when the exciting current exceeds a predetermined value by a magnetic force which is suflicient to hold it against a force tending to close it. In other words, there are two forces acting upon the switch, one tending to hold it open and the other tending to close it. WVhen the exciting current is rela tively high, the force tending to hold it open prevails and when the current is low the force tending to close it prevails. In one form of my invention the force tending to hold the switch open is magnetic in character, while the force tending to close it is partially non-magnetic, as, for instance, where the closing tendency is partially due to the force of gravity or its equivalent'although in some cases both forces may. be magnetic. I have found that a. very effective device of this character isproduced by providing a nearly closed or preferably a completely closed metallic path for the magnetic flux in shunt to the air gap across A which the force which holds the switch open acts. This causesthe flux which tends to hold the switch open to divide between the two paths inversely as the reluctance of these paths. The reluctance of the path including the air gap being relatively large, the force across this gap. which is the force tending to hold the switch open will be relatively small. but still large enough to overcome the forces tending to close it. \Vith side elevation, partly broken away, of one lo'wer energizing current the force across the "100 i the plate, the rod being separated from the form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 1 F ig. 4: is a section on the line of Fig. 1; Fi

another form of my device; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same; *ig. 8 is a section on the line A-A of Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 is a section Of the line BB of Fig. 6. v

Referring first to Figs. 1 to i, 10 repre-v sentsa magnet of the solenoid type proyided with a movable iron core 11. At the upper end of the solenoid is an iron plate 12- provided with projecting" iron lugs 13. The corell has a brass rod 14 'at its upper end which passes through a central opening in plate by a brass bushing 1.5. i .The lower end of the core likewlse 1s prov1ded with a rod,

preferably of brass, passing through the bracket 16. This bracket is secured to the U-shaped iron magnet frame 17 through which the core passes. This frame provides twopole pieces 18 and 19, one on each side of the magnet coil. The .pole piece 19 is cut away, as shown at 20, and the plate 12 enters the recess and is secured to the magnet frame by screws 21. The plate is spaced from the magnet frame at 22 and also by a brass spacer 23. Pole piece 18 is likewise recesseed to receive the projecting end 24 of the plate and is spaced from the plate by the air space, as shown, as well as by the brass spacer 25.

Pivoted in the lugs 13 is a switch operating member 26 having a bracket provided at 27 for carrying the switch member or contact 28. This contact28 cooperates with the stationary contact 28 mounted upon the insulating base 29 and the spring 29' permits the contacts to engage with a sliding or wiping action. The member 26 consists of parallel bars 30 having a cross bar 30 of considerable mass at one end acting as an armature for the pole piece 19. At the other end is the cross piece 31 of less mass, acting as an armature for the pole piece 18. This armature 31 projects beyond-the ends of the pole piece and has wings 32 extending downward so as to overlap the said ends. The member 26, consisting of the bars 30 and the armature 30, is of iron and may be a single casting, such as is shown in the drawing. The armature 31 is secured to the bars 30 by screws31. vA pivot pin 33, which may be of either brass or iron, passes throughthe lugs 13 and bars 30. The weight of the operating member is so distributed around the pivot pin 33 that unless otherwise restrained the arm will move downward to the right from the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the contact 28 would tend to engage contact 28. In order to hold the member in open position, the rod 14 on the core is provided with a brass lug or disk 34 which engages; a pin 35 in the switch member. The weight of the core is 5 is a diagram of the clrcult COI1I16Ct1OI1S; Flg. 6 1s an elevation of thusnormally applied to the member so as to hold it in open position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the end of the switch operating member constituting the armature 31 is held out of contact with the pole piece 18 by a brass screw 36 which is screwed into the armature 31 and abuts against the pole face leaving an air gap at 38. This air gap maybe adjusted by adjusting the screw 36.

As thus constructed and arranged, the switchwill operate as follows: When the magnet winding 10 is energized by a relatively large current; that is, a current which is higher than that at which the switch is set to close, the core 11 will be raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This movement releases the switch operating member which would therefore move to closed position were it not for the fact that it is held open by pole piece 18. The path of the magnetic flux which holds the switch member in open position will be from the core 11 through the magnet frame 17, pole piece 18, across the air gap 38, through the armature 31 and parallel bars 30 of the switch operating member to the lugs 13 of the plate 12 and core 11.

' This path is shunted by a nearly closed metallic path extending from one end of the core 11 through the magnet frame 17 and back to the other 'end through plate 12 which, as pointed out above, is spaced from the magnet framev 17 at both ends. There will also be a path for the flux from the core 11 around to the right through the pole piece 19, across the air gap 39 to armature 30, but the gap 39 is so wide that little flux will pass into the switch arm through this path. I There are thus two forces acting upon the switch member; one force acting across the air gap 38 tending to hold the switch member in open position, and the force of gravity on the other side, together with. what magnetic force may exist, tending to close the switch. As the energizingcurrent decreases, the flux across the'gap 38 will decrease while the force of gravity acting on the other end of the switch remains the same. lVhen the energizing current has fallen to a predetermined value, the magnetic force across the gap 38 will be overcome by the forces on the opposite end of the switch operating member and the switch will move toward closed position. A considerable amount 'of flux is shunted to pole piece 18 by plate 12 thereby making the force acting across the air gap 38 relatively small. While the switch is moving-toward closed position, the air gap 39 is narrowed and the pull on the armature 30 is increased.

When the switch approaches-the closed po the core 11 has been held up and does not.

fall when the energizing current decreases to the point at which the switch closes because it is actually in contact with the iron plate 12 andsticks or freezes in this )osition. l

" pole piece 45 and spaced therefrom as shown. "A brass spacer 46 is .employedbe tween the. plate and the pole piece. The pole piece 47 is secured to the plate by screws 48, a brass spacer 49 being employed between the two parts. The core 41 is secured to the plate 43 by screw 50 and the plate is provided with lugs 51 and 52. An iron switch operating member 53 is pivoted in the lugs 51 and carries at one end the switch member or contact 54 for engaging with the fixed contact '54. The operating member is provided with a cross bar 55 acting as an armature for the pole piece 45. The opposite end 56 of the operating memher is circular in shape and acts as an armature' for the pole piece 47, The weight of the member 53 is distributed around the pivotal point so that theswitch has a tendency to move toward closed position. It is held from moving to closed position, however, by a lever pivoted in the lugs 52 on-a" pin 52 which may be of either brass or iron. This lever is U-shaped so as to surround the armature 56 and a brass pin 58 passing through the two ends of the lever moves in a slot 59 in the member 53.

The member is recessed at 58 soas to permit the pin 52 to enter the recess when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6. The lever. 57 is forced into the position shown in Fig. 6 by a compression spring 56' which forces the pin against the lower end of the slot 59, thereby holding the switch member in open position. The armature portion. 56 is held out of engagement with the pole piece 47 by'a brass screw 60 so as-to leave an air space 61. This space may be adjusted by means of the screw 60. In order to change the flux across the air gap ()1 when the energizing .current varies, Tarrange the outer end of the lever 57 in the? form of an armature and so position it that when it is attracted by the pole piece 47 it will come into contact with the pole piece 47 and also with the iron plate 43. This lever 57 therefore acts to complete a metallic shunt around the path containing the. air gap (31. -The flux, therefore, will have a better path from the plate 43 across the lever 57 to the pole piece 47, than it will have through the lugs 51, switch arm 53 and air gap 61. 'The lever 57 therefore acts as a shunt to the air gap 61 and greatly reduces the flux across the gap. When the energizing current is relatively high the. flux across the air gap will be relatively high, and when the current is low the flux will be correspondingly low.

The operation of this fora of device will be as follows: When a relative-j high energizing current is passed througi. the coil 40, the lever 57 will be pulled downward into engagement with the pole piece 21-7, thereby establishing a metallic shunt around the air gap 61.

operating member but the latter will not move to closed position since it is held by the attraction across the air gap 61. The path of the flux is from core 41 through the magnet frame 42, pole piece 47, across the air gap 61, switch operating member 53, lugs 51 to plate 43. There is also a path in parallel with the gap 61 from the pole piece 47 across the lever 57, to plate 43. There is also a path for the flux from the core 41 through the-magnet frame 42, pole piece 45, across the air gap 62 to the armature 55 of the switch lever and through the lugs 51 to plate 43. The air gap 62 being relatively wide, however, a relatively small amount of flux passes across it. The result is that when the current in the coil is high, the lever 5.7 being held down in engagement with the pole piece 47, the flux across the air gap is relatively high, although it constitutes only a fraction of the total flux. The flux is sufficient to hold the member 53 against the force of gravity tending to move the member to closed position. Vhen the current falls to a lower value the flux across the gap will be reduced to such a point that the attraction across the gap will be overcome by the force of gravity on the opposite end of the lever acting in conjunction with the pull across the gap. 62. The falling of the current to the lower value does not release the lever 57 since it is in engagement with the pole piece and forms a closed magnetic circuit, thereby sticking or freezing to the pole piece. lVhen, however, the current falls to an inappreciable value, as, for instance, by failure of voltage, the lever 57 will be forced away from the pole piece by the spring 56' 'and the switch will be moved to open position. The switch member in this case is arranged sothat it moves by gravity to the closed position when not otherwise restrained, but my invention is in no sense limited to this arrangement, since the parts may be so arranged and proportioned that when the current falls to 'a predetermined value, the force across the air gap 62 will be greater than that across the air gap 61. It will be noted also that the leverage of the armature 56 is much longer than that Themoving of the lever into this position removes the bars from the swltch of the armature p'prtion 55 so that the mag: netic force acting upon the portion 56 may be much less than that upon the armature 55 and still the switch would be held open.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a motor control system embodying a pluralit of my electromagnetic switches. Referring to this diagram, A represents the armature and F the shunt field ofthe motor. R, R and R represent sections of resistance and S, r and S representelectromagnetic switches constructed in accordance with my invention. \Vhen the line switch L is f closed, current will pass from the plus main through the armature A, resistance sections R, R, B

through the winding w of switch S to the negative main. The closing of the-switch L causes a rush of current above the normal, but as the speed of the motor armature rises, this current is reduced by the counter electromotive force of the motor. Upon the first rush of current, the switch S does not close by reason of the construction of the switch, as heretofore described. When, however,

' the current falls to the predetermined value,

due to the speeding up of the motor, the switch S closes. The closing of the switch S energizes the winding w of the switch S and also short circuits the resistance section R. The windings w and w are, of course, of low resistance. The short circuiting of the resistance section B- causes another rush of current which causes the mo tor to further speed up. hen the current .falls to the predetermined value, due to the further increase of speed of the motor, the switch S closes, thereby short circuiting the resistance section B through the winding w of switch S In a similar manner, the switch S will close when the current reaches a predetermined value and short circuit the resistance'R leaving the motor connected across the line in series with the low resistance windings w, wand 10*. Upon failure of voltage these switches will open automatically and in order to again start the motor it will be necessary that the switches again close in the same ordeix:

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit. my invention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggest themselves t0 those skilled in the art without departing from-the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims, some of which are directed to novel features of construction and operation of the switch by the current in the controlled circuit without reference to the number of windings'employed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch member, an electromagrent is relatively high and ermits it to be closed when the current fal s to a predetermined value.

2. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch member normally biased to open position, an electromagnet for holding the same in closed position, and means whereby said magnet holds the switch member in open position when the current is relatively high and permits it to close when the current falls to a predetermined value.

3. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch member, an electromagnet for holding the same in closed position,

and means whereby the flux of said magnet holds the switch member open when the current is relatively high and permits it to close when the current falls to a predetermined value.

4. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating member, an electromagnet for holdin the same in closed position, and cooperating therewith across an air gap to hold it in open position when the current is relatively high, and a magnetic element arranged in shunt to said air gap to cause thefiux through the air gap to decrease so as to allow the switch to close when the current falls to a predetermined value.

5. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating member, an electromagnet cooperating with one end of said operating member to hold the switch in closed position and cooperating with the opposite end of the member across an air gap to hold the member in open position when the current is relatively high, and a magnetic element arranged in shunt to said air gap to cause the flux across said air gap to decrease so as to allow the operating member to move to closed position when the current falls to a predetermined value.

6. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a pivoted switch operating member, an electromagnet cooperating with one end of said switch member to hold the switch in closed position and cooperating with the opposite end of the member across an air gap to hold the member in open position when the current is relatively high, and 'a magnetic element arranged in shunt to said air gap to cause the flux through the air gap; to decrease so as to allow the switch operating member to move to closed position when the current falls to a predetermined value.

nasaaee whereby said magnet holds said member in 1ts normal position after the bias is re moved and 'releasesit when the current in the magnet decreases to a predetermined value said magnet molding the switch in closed position.

8. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating memher having two armature portions, an electromagnet cooperating with One armature portion to hold the switch closed and with the other armature portion to hold it open, and means whereby the flux of said magnet acts upon one armature portion to hold the switch operating member in open position when the current is relatively high and allows it to close when the current falls .to a predetermined value.

9. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating member having two armature portions, an electroanagnet icooperating with one of said armature portions to hold the switch closed and cooperating with the other armature portion across an air gap to hold it open, and amagnetic element arranged in shunt to said air gap to cause the flux across said air gap to decrease and allow the switch to close when the current falls to a predetermined value.v

10. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating member pivoted intermediate its ends and having a contact at one end biased to open position, an electromagnet for holding said contact in closed position, and means whereby the opposite end of said member is held by the magnet when the current is relatively high to keep the contact in open position until the current'falls to a predetermined value. p

11. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch operating mem ber pivoted intermediate its ends and having a contact at one end biased to open position, an electromagnet for holding said contact in closed position and cooperating with the opposite end of said member across an air gap to hold it in open position when the current is relatively high, anf'd a magnetic element arranged in shunt to said air gap to cause the fiuX across said-air gap to decrease and allow the contact to move to closed position when the current falls to a predetermined value.

12. In a series type switch for controlling a resistance in the circuit of an electric motor or similar device, the combination of a magnet winding, a switch operating member biased to a position in which the switch is open when said winding is deenergized, and means whereby onenergization of said winding by a current above a predetermined value there exist two forces acting on said member, first a force tending to in the :11 tion iii) c J .1 Magnetic torce ,1 up, by said winding hohhng said member in open position, and means whereby the reduction oi the said n'iagnetic 2, due to the reduction of current in Smu winding to said predetermined value, permits the first force to predominate and move said member to close the switch, and means whered member by the said member is retained in position.

each of certain switches being brought into said circuit by the closure of a preceding sw tch and delaying the operation of the switch which it controls and later holdmg the said switch in itsoperated position.

14. The combination of a circuit to be controlled, and a series of switches therefor.-

adapted to operate in a predetermined. or-f der,each provided with a controlling'imag net windlng, the magnet winding of each of certain switches being normally deener glzed and brought into said circuit by th closure of a preceding switch and delaying the operation of the switchwhich it con-:

high and permits it to be closed when. the r current falls to a predetermined value, the magnet winding of each of certain of said electromagnets being brought into the said circuit by the closure of a preceding switch member and delaying the operation of the switch member which it controls.

16. The (()I11 'l""iti('m of a circuit to be controlled, and plurality of series type switches therefor, adapted to operate in a predetermined orm each comprising a magnet winding. a switch operating member biased to a position in which the switch is open when said winding isdecuergized, and means whereby on energization of said winding by a current above a predetermined value there exist two tori-yes acting on said membcndirst. a force tending td move said member in a direction to close the switch and, second, a magnetic force set up by said winding holdiiig said member in its open position, and means whereby the reduction of the said magnetic force, due to the reduction of current in said windin to the said predetermined value, per- 'm1ts the first -foroe to predominate and move said member'to close the switch, and

means whereby the said member'is retained in osition to hold the switch closed and wil be so retained until said winding is deenergized, irrespective of increase of current in said-winding, the .magnet winding of each of certain switches being brou ht into the said circuit b the closure 0 a preceding switch and' elaying the operation'of the switch which it controls when the current in the circuit is above the predetermined value.

17. A circuit to be controlled, a switch including a switch member controlling the circuit, a magnetic path in which flux is set-up bythe current in said circuit to hold the switch member from operating to close high but permittin the switch member-to close the switch w en the current is relatively low, and a magnetic path in which flux is set up by the current in said circuit to hold the switch member closed.

18. A circuit to be controlled, a switch member normally biased to open position controlling the circuit, magnetic means controlled by the current in said circuit acting upon the switch member to reinforce the bias and hold the switch member in open position when the current is relatively high ut permitting-the switch member to move to closed positionwhen the current drops to-a predetermined value, and mag netic means controlled by the current in said circuit acting upon the switch member to hold it closed.

, 19. A controlling device for electric circuits comprising a switch member pivoted intermediate its ends and having a contact at one end biased to the open position, elec tromagnetic means energized by the current intermediate its ends and having a contact at one end biased to the open position, an armature portion carried by said switch member on one side of the pivot, an electromagnetic pole piece energized by the 'current in the controlled circuit acting on the switch when the current 1s relatively said armature portion to hold the switch member in open position until the current in the circuit drops to a 1predetermincd value, a second armature portion carried by said switch member upon the opposite side of said pivot and an electromagnetic pole piece energized by said current in the controlled circuit acting upon said second armature portion to hold the contacts in closed position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th da of Februar 1911.

ALTER O. JUM- Witnesses:

- BENJAMIN B. HULL.

HELEN Onrono. 

